With Queensland’s solar battery loan scheme “all but exhausted” in just two weeks, and more than 200,000 subsidised batteries on offer through other state and proposed federal schemes, 2019 is shaping up to be the year of the home battery boom.

Australia could see “solar gardens” begin to sprout as early as 2019, after a major report found shared solar model not only feasible, but able to knock up to $370 a year off cost of electricity for consumers “locked out” of rooftop PV.

It’s that time of the year again when Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator releases the updated data on the solar hot-spots in each Australian state and territory, leading the uptake of rooftop solar systems sized between 0-100kW.

Macalister Demonstration Farm says 61kW solar install at its dairy co-op will pay for itself in power savings in six years – and open the door for new benefits and greater productivity. “When we change the way we think about the cost of power, we can see opportunities.”

Project led by Ovida, using shared solar tech of Allume Energy, to deliver Australia’s “largest” solar and battery microgrid project, that will cut the cost of electricity by 50% for 750 Latrobe Valley businesses.

If you pay attention to battery storage and smart distributed energy in Australia, you might have whiplash from the seemingly rapid-fire announcement of government support initiatives over the last few months.